Klarinet Archive - Posting 000830.txt from 1998/02

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: Contra Bass Clarinet tips
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 10:55:01 -0500

Contra bass clarinet performance has become not only an area of particular
interest to me, but something that I now do on a semi-regular basis as the
bass clarinetist with the Sky Walker Symphony. This is the name we have
given to the orchestra that plays recording sessions at the Lucas Studios
(Sky Walker Ranch) in Marin county. I always play the contra parts and now
own a Selmer Series 9 rosewood Contra Alto and a Leblanc Model 340 (LOW C)
Contra Bb.

I have played Contras on the scores for "Mars Attacks!", "Mimic" and
a few jingles.

It is my experience that most contras are not properly adjusted from the
factory and become worse with playing and "adjustments" from repair people
who don't have the slightest idea how a contra works or should play. The
Leblancs, which are wonderful instruments, have an extremely delicate
mechanism and must be properly and constantly maintained.

Also, the mouthpiece/reed combination can be the principle reason for
squeaks. I believe that most contra mouthpieces are too open and should be
more simialr to an open bass clarinet mouthpiece. Most contra mouthpieces I
have measured have a tip opening you could throw a clarinet through. I am
probably the only mouthpiece maker now that hand faces contra mouthpieces.
I agree that Selmer and Leblanc mouthpieces are not interchangeable. If you
go to my web page you can see my prices for professional contra
mouthpieces. I am working on a good solution for making a contra mouthpiece
for schools that will be much lower in price.

Currently I am willing to reface Selmer or Leblanc mouthpiece for
$75.

One other tip. You may have noticed that Van Doren only makes one
Contra reed. They fit the Leblanc mouthpiece well, but are too wide for the
Selmer mouthpieces. The oversized reed on the EEb can cause squeaks. It is
relatively easy to correct this by narrowing the reed on 400 sandpaper over
a piece of glass.

Clark W Fobes
Web Page http://www.sneezy.org/clark_fobes